A PAIR OF GERMAN LONG FLINTLOCK HOLSTER PISTOLS BY PICART A ÖHRINGEN, CIRCA 1705
with sighted long barrels with swamped chiselled muzzles, sighting flats, the breeches each decorated with a chiselled acanthus moulding inset with a silver demon mask cast in low relief, signed brass rounded locks with linear borders and each inset with a silver demon mask on the tail, the cocks and the steels chiselled in low relief, the steels decorated en suite with the muzzles and the cocks retained by screws with the heads formed as grotesque masks cut in relief, carved moulded walnut full stocks, full iron mounts chiselled in low relief and inset throughout with silver demon masks en suite with the barrels and locks, comprising spurred pommels with demon mask caps, side-plates cut with a delicate pierced rollwerk pattern of leaves and scrolls, moulded trigger-guards with pierced leafy finials en suite with the side-plates, strongly shaped baluster ramrod-pipes, and escutcheons formed as silver demon mask ovals suspended within a pierced scrollwork frame with coronet above ( one top jaw, one steel and the ramrods all missing)
55.3 cm; 21¾ in
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